Mangold is one of the first recruits for the McKenzie, Tenn., school’s new inline hockey program. Matt Swinea, who played ice hockey collegiately at Alabama-Huntsville and has served as the school’s sports information director, has been maned coach of the new team.

“He came to my ice hockey game against Hendersonville, and I had a pretty good game,” Mangold said. “He talked to me after that.”

Mangold, who went 6-6-1 in goal for the Rebels with a 3.86 goals-against average, had considered attending Mississippi State, Middle Tennessee State or Tennessee and possibly playing club hockey.

“If I can play somewhere and get a scholarship for it, that would be a lot better,” he said.

Mangold, who played inline hockey in Las Vegas before moving to Williamson County, said the game’s tempo is a little higher than its ice-hockey counterpart.

“There’s no offsides, no icing, no stoppages of play — it’s continuous,” he said. “It’s a lot faster, and it’s less physical.”

Mangold expects to sign officially within the next week, and thinks Swinea will quickly put together a solid program.

“From the caliber of the people he’s going after and talking to, I think we’ll be pretty good,” he said. “I think we should do pretty well.”